Drug Safety is Top-of-Mind

<p>A new perspective piece published in <em>The New England Journal of Medicine </em>and a recent Brookings Institution conference underscore the importance of accurate medication information. </p>
<p>The <a href="http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp1401767">article</a> in <em>The New England Journal of Medicine</em> states that information on prescription drugs on Wikipedia is often outdated and incorrect. According to the article, &ldquo;Wikipedia is reportedly the most frequently consulted online healthcare resource globally.&rdquo; Read more&hellip;</p>
<p>The investigators posited several questions to explore, including how warnings against drug use in a specific patient population are diffused globally. They found that 41 percent of Wikipedia pages on drugs with new safety warnings were updated two weeks after the warning was issued with information provided in FDA announcements.</p>
<p>Clearly a more standardized approach to disseminating information on prescription drugs is in order.</p>
<p>This week, as part of its ongoing effort to ensure patients have access to high-quality medication information, NACDS Vice President of Public Policy and Regulatory Affairs Kevin Nicholson <a href="http://www.brookings.edu/events/2014/07/01-patient-medication-information-prescription-phrma-fda">presented</a> at the Brookings Institution at a meeting to discuss the progress of developing a single-document format called Patient Medication Information (PMI).</p>
<p>The FDA and other stakeholders from throughout the biomedical ecosystem, including NACDS, have worked for several years to establish the PMI. In his statement, Nicholson praised the FDA for moving toward the standardized PMI document. He said, &ldquo;The key to success for patient medication information will be for continued collaboration among the agency, manufacturers, pharmacies, providers and consumer groups.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

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National Association of Chain Drug Stores

For 86 years NACDS has represented traditional drug stores, supermarkets and mass merchants with pharmacies and supplier partners. Chains operate over 40,000 pharmacies, and NACDS’ member companies include regional chains, with a minimum of four stores, and national companies. Chains employ nearly 3 million individuals, including 152,000 pharmacists.